Bringing warmth one stitch at a time

Marylou Wahl (left) and Kathy Riedel (right) hold quilts made by members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Quilting Friends. The group of 24 women will send out close to 100 quilts to those in need before the end of the year.

The group is able to function through monetary support from the church and donations, specifically from those who have benefited from the group’s work. The money helps the women purchase supplies which are tucked away in a small and overflowing closet of the church.

While the work is admirable, Wahl and Riedel both admit that the women get something valuable as well.

“It is definitely a ministry,” said Wahl “It’s not just a ministry of outreach to the community. It’s also a ministry to us within the group. It’s a real good support group for everybody.”

Riedel said it group provides everyone with a chance to talk and find out more about what’s going on in their lives.

“There’s such a disconnection out there with the Internet. Nobody is talking face to face anymore,” said Riedel.

Church pastor Mark Mueller joked that sometimes he feels like Santa Claus when he delivers the quilts and that all the elves are back at the workshop making the gifts.

“What a wonderful gift when people receive something so beautiful, handmade and artistic and to have that and bring that warmth to them whether they are getting chemotherapy, or had a house fire or if they’ve been flooded, giving table runners to the families that we give food to during the holidays,” said Mueller. “It touches lives. It is a wonderful thing that they do and they have fun doing it.”

For more information about the group, contact the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 439-4328.